Resistor



March 4, 1930. T. c. BROWNE 1,749,661

RESISTOR Filed April 26. 1926 Patented Mar. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES THEODORE C. BROWNE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO RESISTOR Application filed April 2G,

My invention relates to resistors and primarily to that type of resistor designed to be used as a rheostat or a potentiometer similar to those used in radio circuits and the like.

An object of the invention is to construct a device of this character which may be used either as a rheostat or a potentiometer' without in any manner changing the construction of the device, so that the same device may be used in either casel at will.

A further object of the invention is to provide a resistor which is simple in construction and exceptionally cheap to manufacture and because of the many radios in use, each radio using from one to three of these resistors, cheapness in manufacture without affecting the eiiiciency of the resistor is very important.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a resistor' which is easy to assemble and disassemble and having the parts so formed that any single part thereof may be replaced, if injured, without the necessity of securing an entirely new resistor.

A still further object of the invention is to construct a resistor which is capable of handling small currents, such as are used in radio circuits but where the resistance used must have a very high capacity.

With the objects above indicated and other objects hereinafter explained in view my invention consists in the construction and combination of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side View of the resistor.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the resistor with the resistance element and discs in cross-section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the resistor taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. l is an end view of the resistance ele ment showing the terminals in position.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the metal discs.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the metal disc.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the ber insulating disc showing the means for attaching the terminals thereto.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the fiber insulating disc on the opposite side of the resistor and 1926. Serial No. 104,669.

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the insulating discs.

1n the drawings 1 indicates a ring shaped resistance elen'ient having a portion cut away to form the ends 2 and 3 respectively. This resistance elementis formed in a solid mass and is comprised of the materials preferably embodying the subject matter of a separate invention, application for which is simultaneously filed herewith, Serial No. 104,670, filed April Q6, 1926.

This resistance element is supported by insulating discs et and 9 having depressed portions 5 and 10 which are disposed inwardly and so formed as to provide means for supporting the element therein. rlhe outer edges of the resistance discs i and 9 are permitted to extend beyond the periphery of the element 1 to prevent any possibility of short circuiting the resistor.

Metal discs 12 are provided with depressions 13 similar to those formed in the insulating discs fi and 9 but disposed outwardly and adapted to register with the depres ed portions 5 and 10 of the insulating discs l and 9. 75 The extended portions beyond the depressed portion of the discs 10 are adapted to engage with the extended portions of the discs et and 9 and are so positioned as to firmly clamp the resistor element 1 and the insulating discs l and 9 together. The depressed portions 5 and 1G of the insulating discs are so formed that they will materially aid in the assembling of the device to hold the resistance element 1 in place before the members are clamped together. The depressed portions 13 in the metallic discs 12 are so formed that when pressure is applied to the depressed portions 13 to draw the two discs 12 together that pressure will be better transferred to the extended portions of the metallic discs 12.

The metallic discs 12 are provided with apertures 14 and the insulating discs 4C and 9 are provided with apertures 6 and 11, respectively, and all of said apertures extend coaxially of the resistance element 1.

A threaded sleeve 15 is adapted to extend through the apertures 6, 11 and 14 of the respective discs and nuts 16 engage the screw threads of the Sleeve 15 on each side of the metallic discs 4 and 9 and securely hold the several members in positive engagement.

Extending through the sleeve 15 is a shaft 18 provided with a collar 14 adapted to engage with one end of the sleeve 15. A reduced portion 20 on the shaft 18 is adapted to extend beyond the opposite end of the sleeve 15 and to this portion is secured a contacting arm 21 which has a U-shaped spring portion 22 formed at the one end and provided with co-axial openings 23 which engage with the reduced portion 20 of the shaft 18. This portion 22 of the contact arm 21 is securely fastened to the reduced portion 2O to prevent movement between these two members. The opposite end of the contact arm 21 extends over the resistance dise 9 and has a portion 24 provided thereon which is adapted to engage with the eriphery of the resistance element. This -shaped spring portion 22 is so formed that the inner end of the portion 22 is adapted to engage with the end of the sleeve 15 and to thereby act with said reduced portion 20 to draw the sleeve 19 of shaft 18 against the end of sleeve 15. This shaft 18 is free to rotate within the sleeve 15 and rotation of said shaft 18 causes the rotation of the contact arm 21 carrying the extended portion 24 so that said extended portion 24 engages around the entire periphery of the resistance element 1.

A nut 17 is adapted to engage with the threaded sleeve 15 to enable the resistor to be mounted upon a radio panel (not shown) if desired. This is accomplished by inserting the sleeve 15 through a hole provided in the panel and clam ing the panel tightly by means of the nut l? and the nut 16.

The terminal members 25 are provided with extensions 26 at right angles thereto and the inner face of the extensions 26 engage with the faces 2 and 3 of the resistance element 1 and the other portion 25 engages with the top surface of the resistance element 1 and both portions are held by means of a cementing material applied to the joinin faces. These terminals are further provi ed with apertures 27.

The insulatin disc 4 is provided with a tongue member having apertures 8 which extend therethrough and are adapted to register with the aperture 27 provided in the terminals 25. This insulating disc 4 is laced next to the resistance element 1 and y means of rivets 28 extending through the apertures 8 and 27 of the insulating disc 4 and terminals 25, respectively, securely hold these terminals 25 in rigid engagement with the resistance element 1 irrespective of the cementing material.

If it is desired to use the resistor as a rheostat one conductor wire (not shown) should be secured to one of the terminals 25 of the resistance element 1 and the other conductor -wire (not shown) should be secured to the contact arm 21 or the shaft 18. Rotation of the shaft 18 causes the contact arm 21 to be rotated therewith and an adjustable resistance between the two conductor wires is provided.

If it is desired to use the resistor as a potentiometer conductor wires (not shown) should be attached to each of the terminals 25 and a third conductor wire (not shown) should be attached to the contact arm 21 or the shaft 18 carrying said arm and the difference in the potential of the two conductor members may be readily adjusted.

While I have described my invention as being composed of metallic discs and fiber insulating discs it is to be understood that discs of other materials may be used in place of these, where the same result is obtained, and that other slight modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a resistor of the type described, a resistance element, insulatlng discs provided with a portion adapted to receive the peripheral portions of said element formed by inwardly extending central depressions, said discs extending beyond the periphery of said element, discs provided with a portion adapted to engage said insulating discs, the central portions being provided with outwardly extending depressions and the peripheral portions terminating short of the peripheral portions of said insulating discs, means for clamping said discs together to thereby support said element, a shaft mounted within said clamping means, and a contact arm having one end secured to said shaft, the other end engaging with said element.

2. In a resistor of the type described, a resistance element, insulating discs adapted to receive said element and provided with central inwardly extending depressions, said discs extending beyond the periphery of said element, discs provided with a portion adapted to engage said insulating discs and being further provided with central depressions adjacent to but extending oppositely to the depressions in said insulating discs, a threaded sleeve adapted to extend through apertures axially of said discs, nuts engaging sa1d sleeve and adapted to engage said second mentioned dises to securely clamp the same, a shaft r0- tatably mounted in said sleeve, and a Contact arm secured to said shaft and engaging with said element.

3. In a resistor of the t e described, a resistance element, insulating discs provided with a portion adapted to receive said element and further provided with inwardly extending central depressions, the periphery of said discs extending beyond the periphery of said element, discs provided with a portion adapted to engage said insulating discs'F130 and further provided With outwardly extending depressions in alignment With the depressions in said insulating discs, a threaded sleeve adapted to extend through apertures axially of said discs, nuts engaging said sleeve and adapted to be turned into engagement with said second mentioned discs to securely clamp the same, a shaft rotatably mounted in said sleeve, a Contact arm secured to said shaft and engaging said element, and terminals secured to said insulating discs and in engagement with said element.

4. In a resistor of the type described, a resista-nce element, insulating discs provided with depressed portions and adapted to receive and support said element at the outer portion of said discs, said discs extending beyond the outer surface of said element, discs provided with depressed portions and extending oppositely to the depressed portions of the insulating discs, the outer ends of which are adapted to engage with portions of said insulating discs, means for clamping said discs together, a shaft mounted within said clamping means and a contact arm having one end secured to said shaft, the other end engaging with said element.

5. In a resistor of the type described, a. resistance element, insulating discs provided with depressed portions and adapted to receive and support said element at the outer portion of said dises, one insulating disc heing provided With a tongue portion to which terminals are secured, said discs extending beyond the outer surface of said element, discs provided with depressed portions and extending oppositely to the depressed portions of the insulating discs, the outer ends of which are adapted to engage with portions of said insulating discs, means for clamping said discs together, a shaft mounted Within said clamping means and a contact arm havino one end secured to said shaft, the other end engaging with said element.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afix my signatur-e.

THEODORE C. BROWNE. 

